Refuse receptacle



2,926,}?34 REF-USE RECEPTAGLE Arthur L. Kaslow, Los AngelegCalif. Application April 22, 1957, Serial-No. 654,163 1 Claim. (Cl. 229- 52 The present invention relates generally to refuse receptacles, and is more particularly concerned with a receptacle which is normally in a collapsed condition, but which may be opened up or extended for use.

There are'many places where the disposal of used tissue such as utilized for cleansing, paper handkerchiefs and the like presents a problem. For example in ho'spitals, a makeshift expedient is sometimes followed infwhich a paper sack or bag is secured by means of a safety pin to the bed clothing. Also, in the case of automobiles, there is'often no provisionfor disposing or tissue, the result being that very often the tissue is discarded out the windowwhere it litters up the highway in an extremely unsightly manner.

' H ith the'foregoing in mind, the present invention con,- templates the provision of a receptacle which may be constructed of" relatively inexpensive materials, such as cardboard and the like, which normally is in a collapsed condition so that it will take up only a very small space; which may be easily unfolded or extended for use; and when so extended may be readily supported from a variety of structures.

A further object is to provide in a refuse receptacle of the character described herein, a receptacle of collapsed construction, which may be extended and through the intereng agement of certain of its parts be retained quite rigidly in its extended position of use.

' A further object of the invention is to provide in a. refuse receptacle of the herein described character, novel means whereby the receptacle is re adilyadapted" to ube suspended from a varietyof support members.

Further objects of the invention willbe brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes o'nly:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse receptacle embodying the features of the present invention;

2 is a view showing the receptacle in a collapsed condition for storage, during non-use;

Figs. 3 and 4 are bottom views successively illustrating the manner in which the bottom forming'lportions of the container are cooperatively associatedand interlocked in the'exterided condition of the containerpfor use;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the bottom closure arrangement;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the details of construction of the back wall of the receptacle, which permits the receptacle to be suspended from a wide variety of supporting elements; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, certain of the parts being reoriented to adapt the receptacle for suspension from the robe-cord of an automobile.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the receptacle of the herein described l atented Mar. ,1, 1960 invention, shown in'Fig. 1, comprises in its extended posltion a box like receptacle or container as generally ,indicatedby the nurneral 10.

This structure is of preferably inexpensive material, such as cardboard or the like, which may be thrown away after use. More specifically, the receptacle is constructed with opposite pairs of Walls, these walls being shown as a forward wall 11, a back wall 12 and opposite side walls 13 and 14. These walls form .the body of the receptacle, and are formed preferably of a single sheet, the ends of this sheet'beingoverlapped at a back corner as indicated at 15, and glued or otherwise bo'nded.

As shown, the forward wall is ofless heightthan the back wall, these walls cooperating with the upper margins of the side walls to form an end opening at the top of the receptacle. The bottom of the receptacle is closed "by a flat closure formed by integral marginal inwardly folded wall portions having overlapped parts, and interlocked in cooperative position in which the receptacle is retained in an extended position for use.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 2, the receptacle is shown in its folded position fo'r storage or non-use or prior to use. The back wall 12 is constructed with a marginal integrally formed wall portion 16 which is foldable along an inner fold line 17 and at its freeend is provided with lateral tongues 18 and 1 9 which are spaced apart to form an open notch 20 having its inner extremity formed ,by an edge 21.

The side walls'13 and 14 are each similarly provided with a marginal wall portion 22 which connects with the side wall along its entire width at a fold line 23, and at its free end is formed with a projecting lateral tongue 24 of approximately one-half the width of the wall 14. The tongue 24 at its inner extremity has an edge 25 which intersects with angular edge 26.

The forward wall 11 is likewise provided with a mar ginal wall portion 27 which is connected along its inner extremity with the wall 11 along a fold line 28 from which the wall portion is tapered between edges 29 and 30, and at its free end is formed into a tongue 31.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the manner in which the marginal wall portions are folded and associated to formthe closure of the receptacle, will now be e;x.-. plained.

Referringnow to Figs. 3 and 4, the wall portion 16 is now folded in about fold line 17, after which the wall portions 22 are successively folded in on fold lines 23 so as to bring their tongue portions 24 into overlapped relation, and with the wall portions 22 respectively Overlying the adjacent tongues 18 and 19 of thewall portion 1. as most clearly shown in Fig. 3. As thus folded, the edges 21 and 25 are brought into close proximity'and may form a narrow slot '32. The marginal wall portion 27- is then foldedabout the fold line 28 and the tongue.

31 inserted through, the slot 32. The tongue 31 thus forms a key member which in cooperation. with. thehody pcrtionof the marginal wall. portion 27 holds the overlappiog wall portions previously described in interlocked relationship, and maintains the receptacle in extended position of use, as shown in Fig. 1.. The position of the marginal wall portion 27, with the tongue 31 inserted in the slot 32 is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a slightly modified construction, wherein the tongue 24 instead of being provided with a straight edge 25, is provided with an angularly disposed edge 25 so that the free end of the tongue 24 is slightly wider and so as to form a corner part of the wall portion 16.

The upper end margins of side walls 13 and 1.4 are respectively provided with tapered extensions 13:: and

ing 52 may be provided centrally of the bend line 39,

14a to facilitate the disposal of refuse from the front side of the receptacle.

In order to widen the scope of use of the refuse receptacle, means are provided to permit suspending the receptacle from a plurality of different types of supports.

For such purpose, as shown in Fig. l, there may be provided a strap member 34 having enlarged ends 35 which are respectively adapted to be inserted through a slot 36 in the upper ends of the extensions 13:: and 14a so as to removably connect the strap to the receptacle and form in eifect a handle or bail by which the v receptacle may be suspended from a projecting element.

In some places of use, for example, in a position convenient to the occupants of the front seat of an automobile, provision may be made for suspending the receptacle from one of the control knobs on the instrument or control panel of the automobile. For such purpose, as shown best in Fig. 6, the back wall 12 may be provided with a plurality of radial scored lines 36 which are spaced apart circumferentially and radiate outwardly from a common scored circular line 37. With this arrangement, the receptacle may be suspended from a control knob simply by centering the circle 37 over the center of the knob and by applying pressure, the knob will deflect the segmental secondary tongue portions between the scored lines 36 and thus provide 'an opening through which the knob may pass.

As further shown in Fig. 6, the portion just explained may be embodied within a deflectable primary tongue portion 38 which is integrally secured along a bend line 39 to the back wall 12 and is integrally formed therewith. The sides of the tongue are defined by scored lines 40 and 41 along the sides of the tongue, and scored line 42 at the end of the tongue opposite the bend line 39. Adjacent the ends of the scored line 42, the scored lines 40 and 41 are deflected so as to form notches 43 and 44 respectively for a purpose to be described hereafter.

Spaced above the bend line 39 is an elongate slot 45 which may be formed by a knock-out piece 46 which is so shaped that end extensions 46 and 47 will be provided, thus making the lower part of the slot longer than the upper part of the slot. With this arrangement, the tongue 38 may be severed from theback wall of the receptacle, along the scored lines 40, 41 and 42 and then deflected, as shown in Fig. 7 to form a loop 48 which may be extended around, for example, a robe supporting cord 49, as indicated in dotted lines, the free end of the tongue being inserted through the bottom part of the slot 45, whereupon end projections 50 and 51 at the end of the slot may pass into the notches 43 and 44 of the. tongue and thus removably lock this end of the tongue to the back wall. I 7

Other means are provided to facilitate supporting the receptacle in a position of use. For example, an open this opening being adapted to receive a nail or other appropriate supporting element therethrough.

As further shown, spaced openings 53 and 54 may be provided adjacent the secured end of the tongue. A string or cord may have its ends inserted through these openings and by tying a knot in each end of the string or cord, a loop will be formed on the back side of the back wall 12 which may be utilized for suspending the receptacle from a support element.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

A refuse receptacle of sheet material, comprising: a body portion of substantially rectangular cross section having side walls arranged in opposing pairs, of which one wall constitutes a back wall of the receptacle, said body portion having a closed bottom end and an open upper end, said back wall adjacent said open end having a primary tongue-like member integrally formed of the wall material, said tongue member at its inner end having a hinge connection with the back wall along a bend line, and a scored line extending from the ends of the bend line defining a detachable connection between the sides and outer end of the primary tongue, and the adjacent back wall material, a transversely extending knock-out piece adjaccntly above said bend line adapted when removed to form an elongate slot in the back wall in substantially parallel relation to said bend line, a circular scored line formed in the primary tongue member, and a plurality of scored lines radially extending from circumferentially spaced points on said circular scored line cooperatively defining initially coplanar segmental secondary tongue portions detachably connected at their innermost ends with the area circumscribed by the circular scored line, but integrally anchored at their outermost ends, said secondary tongue portions upon being detached at their innermost ends being deflectable to provide an opening adapted to receive endwise therein a projecting member for supporting the receptacle, and the primary tongue being selectively bendable upon detachment along its sides and outer end so as to permit its free end being anchored in said slot so as to form a loop adapted to extend around a bar-like member and support the receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,408,814 List Mar. 7, 1922 1,864,968 Weiner June 28, 1932 2,190,433 Palmer Feb. 13, 1940 2,354,098 Bamber July 18, 1944 2,426,484 Butfenbarger Aug. 26, 1947 2,596,087 Shoudy May 6, 1952 2,645,406 Robins July 14, 1953 2,705,556 Ringler Apr. 5, 1955 2,800,268 Mathews July 23, 1957 2,810,987 Denbow Oct. 29, 1957 2,848,154 Hanson Aug. 19, 1958 MM w 

